In many parts of the country, a “Southern” wedding is synonymous with barns, lace, and mason jars. While all of those things are near and dear to our hearts, Lauren and Leigh’s wedding is beautiful proof that Southern doesn’t need to mean rustic. Their downtown Atlanta celebration was urban and undeniably elegant–a perfect combination for this chic bride and her football player groom! We fell in love with the unique color palette Lauren and Leigh chose for their big day (those buttery yellow blooms, y’all!), their darling ring bearers, and the sweet community that so clearly surrounds them, and we knew we had to include it in V7!
Thank you so much to Amy Arrington and EllyB Events for sharing this special day with us!
Tell us about finding your wedding dress. My gown and veil were both by Rivini. I loved the way it fit me like a glove! It was sooooo beautiful, and I wish I could wear it again and again! I loved everything about it.
I really wanted to be sure that the ladies would be comfortable and that the dresses would flatter everyone. I chose gray to accent the yellow bouquets that they carried and the navy tuxedos the groomsmen wore.
Bride’s favorite detail of the wedding: The ombré rose petal aisle.
Groom’s favorite detail of the wedding: Being able to pull off the outdoor wedding my bride dreamed of.
We chose to get married in July so that all of Leigh’s friends could attend before training camp began. I have always envisioned myself getting married outdoors, so we looked at a variety of outdoor venues before ultimately choosing Park Tavern in Piedmont Park. Park Tavern has a magnificent view of the city and plenty of room to accommodate our 250+ guests. We chose the evening in hopes that it would be cooler, given we were getting married in July in Atlanta!
What was your reception like? It was a huge party in an air-conditioned tent, decorated with dramatic centerpieces, including an amazing twinkle dance floor!
Blue is our favorite color, so we knew right away that we wanted to use navy in our wedding. We thought that yellow, gold, and grey were great accent colors. We both enjoy modern design, so our wedding had a bit of a GQ feel.
What advice would you give to someone currently planning his or her wedding? It sounds so simple, but it’s true–HAVE FUN!!!
When did y’all get married? July 5, 2014
How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. We met through some mutual friends on June 19, 2012 at the Hudson Grille in Midtown Atlanta. The two of us sparked a conversation that evening, started dating soon after, and we have been together ever since.
Describe the proposal: Leigh planned a winter date night to the Botanical Gardens’ Festival of Lights during the Christmas season. I had been begging him to go. As we were making our way around the different exhibits, Leigh stopped to take a seat on a bench to get a “rock” out of his shoe. We sat down, I turned my head, and to my surprise, when I looked back, Leigh proposed to me. It was a beautiful moment, and Leigh had even hired a photographer who was standing off just to the side, taking photos and video. We celebrated that night with family and friends at the Torrence’s Christmas party.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Marvelous, breathtaking, beautiful
What was the weather like on your big day? We were extremely blessed in the weather department. The entire weekend was so beautiful for July in Atlanta. There was a breeze and no humidity.
How many guests attended your wedding? Over 250
Briefly describe your wedding flowers: Our flowers were all different shades of yellow and white spray roses, garden roses, snap dragons, lilies, and orchids. We had a beautiful ombré rose petal aisle that was made with over 400 roses. The centerpieces for the reception were glass trumpet vases, with yellow orchid blooms hung in the center of each vase.
How did you spend the morning or afternoon before your ceremony? The groomsmen relaxed in our suite at the W Midtown, watching Word Cup soccer. The bridesmaids and I had our hair and makeup done while having brunch and sipping mimosas!
Who participated in your ceremony? Our parents lit symbolic Williams and Torrence family candles.
Tell us about your grand exit. We had everyone line the stairwell holding sparklers as we exited the venue!
Best advice or most memorable comment someone made to you during the wedding celebration: One evening, when we were still engaged, we were gathering with some friends and family members. A man who neither of us had met before was told that we were getting married. He then proceeded to point two fingers at us and said, “Till death do you part.” It was such an intense moment and we all laughed, but later, Leigh and I realized how real that statement was and how important it is for us to stay committed to our marriage vows.
Photographer: Amy Arrington Photography / Wedding planner and linens: Elly B. Events / Designer and florals: Andy Beach / Venue: Park Tavern / Cake baker: Sweet Caroline’s Cakes / Bride’s gown: Rivini / Bride’s shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaid dresses: Donna Morgan / Hair stylist: Kevin Styles / Makeup artist: Noor Farooq / Groom’s attire: Burberry / Groom’s shoes and tie: Louis Vuitton / Groomsmen attire: Black Tie by Lori / Paper products: Paper Parfait / Transportation: Georgia Trolley Services / Lighting: Indaglow Productions
I love this print! After the V7 shoot with the printed bridesmaid dresses, I am in love!